Without looking at me, he lifted his hand and pointed at the spot between two tall pine trees. From the scared look on his face, I expected to see a zombie or something sinister, but when I turned, I didn’t see anything. I turned back to Adrian. “What’s the problem?”

His voice was somewhat shaky. “I thought I saw a bald man standing there, watching us.”

“Now you’re just being narcissistic. Not everyone’s looking at you, Adrian.”

My joke seemed to shake his concern. He threw up his hands, palms facing forward in resignation. “Look, Montgomery. I’m a good sight. How can you blame them?”

“Whatever. Come on.” I grabbed Adrian’s arm and dragged him forward. “Our mission isn’t over yet! Also, we haven’t eaten yet today and it’s already two thirty! I need food to function!”

Although I could see a hint of worry lingering in his expression, he nodded. “We can try the diner on the corner.”

Across the table from each other, Adrian and I only talked about things that could be safely discussed in public—as in, anything but breaking the soul-mate bond. When our conversation ebbed for a moment, I decided to turn the tables on him. “Let’s talk about you for a minute.”

Adrian laughed, full and throaty. “Why? Are we at the stage where you want to get to know me better, Montgomery?”

“How was your date?”

“Date?” Adrian quirked a brow.

“With Renata. Have you fallen in love with her yet?”

He looked over at me with a strange expression, clearly taken aback that I had asked such a question. “Nah, it was nothing like that.” Adrian shook his head, his jaw clenched. “You know me. I don’t easily fall in love.”

“Everyone says that before they fall.”

“I’m not just everyone.”

“Oh yeah!” I tapped my forehead lightly with my palm. “That’s right, I also forgot that you have a gigantic ego while the rest of us have normal-sized ones.”

Adrian’s phone dinged. Concern crossed his face as he looked down at the screen. “Caitlin is sick,” he explained to me. “She claims it’s the flu, but she has these small red bumps all over her body; I’ve told her the flu doesn’t cause that. Althea has been sending me updates.”

I gasped. “Maybe she has chicken pox!”

“Yeah.” Adrian gave a nod. “That’s what I think too. Anyway, I’ve called a doctor to stop by our place later.”

“Wait, have you told your parents?”

“Why would I tell them?” Disdain danced on his face as he answered me. “They wouldn’t want to be bothered with something like this.”

Truthfully, I didn’t know which surprised me more: Adrian acting like a responsible adult or the fact that he hadn’t informed his parents.